Machine Design: cram pack

Formula sheets, the key method steps for every topic and 12 practice problems, with full solutions at the back.

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1Formulas and methods

Gears & gear trains

Meshing gears
n1·N1 = n2·N2
Torque
T2 = T1·(N2/N1)·η
Power
P = T·ω, ω = 2π·n/60
Compound train
total ratio = product of the stage ratios

Torsion of shafts

Shear stress
τ = T·r/J
Solid shaft
J = πd⁴/32
Hollow shaft
J = π(D⁴ − d⁴)/32
Angle of twist
φ = TL/(GJ)
Power
P = T·ω = 2πnT/60

Method

  1. Find the polar moment of area: J = πd⁴/32 for a solid shaft.
  2. Shear stress at the surface: τ = T·r/J, with r the outer radius.
  3. Angle of twist: φ = TL/(GJ) in radians.
  4. If power is given, find the torque first with P = T·ω, ω = 2πn/60.

Mohr’s circle & stress transformation

Centre
C = (σx + σy)/2
Radius
R = √(((σx − σy)/2)² + τxy²)
Principal stresses
σ1,2 = C ± R
Principal direction
tan 2θp = 2τxy/(σx − σy)
Inclined plane
σθ = C + (σx − σy)/2·cos 2θ + τxy·sin 2θ

Method

  1. Calculate the centre of Mohr’s circle: C = (σx + σy)/2.
  2. Calculate the radius: R = √(((σx − σy)/2)² + τxy²).
  3. The principal stresses are C ± R and the largest in-plane shear stress is R.
  4. Angles on the circle are double the angles on the element: tan 2θp = 2τxy/(σx − σy).

Axial stress & strain

Normal stress
σ = F/A
Strain
ε = ΔL/L
Hooke’s law
σ = E·ε
Elongation
ΔL = FL/(EA)
Thermal strain
εT = α·ΔT

Column buckling

Euler load
Pcr = π²EI/(KL)²
Effective length factor
K = 1 pinned–pinned, 0.5 fixed–fixed, 0.7 fixed–pinned, 2 fixed–free
Critical stress
σcr = Pcr/A
Slenderness
λ = KL/r, r = √(I/A)

Mechanical vibrations

Natural frequency
ωn = √(k/m), fn = ωn/(2π)
From static deflection
ωn = √(g/δst)
Critical damping
cc = 2√(km) = 2mωn
Damping ratio
ζ = c/cc
Damped frequency
ωd = ωn√(1 − ζ²)
Logarithmic decrement
δ = (1/n)·ln(x0/xn), ζ = δ/√(4π² + δ²)
Springs in parallel
k = k1 + k2
Springs in series
1/k = 1/k1 + 1/k2

2Practice problems

1.Gears & gear trainsMedium
N1​ = 24N2​ = 48

A 5.5 kW motor running at 1450 rpm drives a pinion with 24 teeth, which meshes with a gear with 48 teeth. The gear pair has an efficiency of 96%. Find the output torque T2 on the gear shaft.

P = 5.5 kWn1 = 1450 rpmN1 = 24N2 = 48η = 96%
T2 = N·m
2.Gears & gear trainsHard
d1​ = 160 mmd2​ = 250 mm2880 rpmC = 1000 mmT1​ = 1200 NT2​P = ?

An open belt connects a 160 mm driving pulley at 2880 rpm to a 250 mm pulley; the centres are 1000 mm apart. The coefficient of friction is 0.35 and the tight-side tension may not exceed 1200 N. Find the largest power P the belt can transmit without slipping, in kW (ignore centrifugal effects).

d1 = 160 mmn1 = 2880 rpmd2 = 250 mmC = 1000 mmμ = 0.35T1 = 1200 N
P = kW
3.Torsion of shaftsMedium
d = 12 mmT = 40 N·m250 mmφ = 3.52°

In a torsion test, a solid specimen of diameter 12 mm is twisted by a torque of 40 N·m. The two ends of a gauge length of 250 mm rotate 3.52° relative to each other (the material is still elastic). Find the shear modulus G of the material.

T = 40 N·md = 12 mmL = 250 mmφ = 3.52°
G = GPa
4.Torsion of shaftsHard
d = 50 mmTB​ = 1500 N·mTC​ = 250 N·mABC2.5 m3 m

A solid steel shaft of diameter 50 mm is fixed at A. A torque of 1500 N·m acts at B, 2.5 m from A, and a torque of 250 N·m in the opposite direction acts at the free end C, a further 3 m along. Find the magnitude of the angle of twist φC of end C, in degrees.

d = 50 mmTB = 1500 N·mTC = 250 N·mAB = 2.5 mBC = 3 mG = 80 GPa
φC = °
5.Mohr’s circle & stress transformationMedium
σx​ = 10σy​ = 120τxy​ = −60MPa

A point in a thin plate is in plane stress: σₓ = 10 MPa, σᵧ = 120 MPa and τₓᵧ = −60 MPa, with σz = 0. Find the absolute maximum shear stress τabs at the point (considering all planes in three dimensions).

σx = 10 MPaσy = 120 MPaτxy = −60 MPaσz = 0
τabs = MPa
6.Mohr’s circle & stress transformationHard
σx​ = 30σy​ = 10τxy​ = 50MPa

A point in a thin plate is in plane stress: σₓ = 30 MPa, σᵧ = 10 MPa and τₓᵧ = 50 MPa (σz = 0). The material has a yield strength of 300 MPa. Find the factor of safety n against yielding by the von Mises (distortion energy) criterion.

σx = 30 MPaσy = 10 MPaτxy = 50 MPaσY = 300 MPa
n =
7.Axial stress & strainMedium
Ø 30 mmCopper1.5 mP = 35 kN

Find the axial strain ε in the copper bar, in microstrain (µε = 10⁻⁶).

P = 35 kNd = 30 mmL = 1.5 mE = 117 GPa
ε = µε
8.Axial stress & strainHard
Ø 40 mmAluminium1 mØ 16 mmCopper2 mP = 70 kN

The stepped bar is fixed at the wall and loaded at its free end. Find the total elongation δ.

P = 70 kNsegment 1: Ø40 mm, 1 m, aluminium (E = 70 GPa)segment 2: Ø16 mm, 2 m, copper (E = 117 GPa)
δ = mm
9.Column bucklingMedium
PL = 2.5 md = 80 mmcross-section

A column of length L made of steel is pinned at both ends. Using Euler’s formula, find its critical buckling load Pcr.

L = 2.5 mE = 200 GPa (steel)d = 80 mm
Pcr = kN
10.Column bucklingHard
PL = 2.5 md = 50 mmcross-section

A column of length L made of steel is fixed at the base and free at the top. Find its slenderness and the critical buckling stress σcr from Euler’s formula.

L = 2.5 mE = 200 GPa (steel)d = 50 mm
σcr = MPa
11.Mechanical vibrationsMedium
tx50 mm4 cycles1.1 mm

In a free-vibration test of a damped mass–spring system, a displacement peak of 50 mm is followed 4 cycles later by a peak of 1.1 mm. Find the damping ratio ζ.

x0 = 50 mmx4 = 1.1 mmn = 4
ζ =
12.Mechanical vibrationsHard
k1​ = 60k2​ = 5k3​ = 80m = 50 kg

A 50 kg mass hangs from spring k₃ = 80 kN/m. The top of k₃ is attached to a rigid bar that hangs from two springs side by side, k₁ = 60 kN/m and k₂ = 5 kN/m; the bar stays level. Ignore damping and the masses of the springs and bar. Find the natural frequency fn of vertical vibration in Hz.

m = 50 kgk1 = 60 kN/mk2 = 5 kN/mk3 = 80 kN/m
fn = Hz

3Solutions

1.Gears & gear trains

Answer: T2 = 69.55 N·m

Gear trains: meshing gears have the same speed at the teeth, so n₁·N₁ = n₂·N₂: the gear with fewer teeth turns faster. Gears on one shaft turn at the same speed. Power is passed on (minus losses), so torque goes up when speed goes down: T₂ = T₁·(N₂/N₁)·η, and P = T·ω with ω = 2π·n/60.

Motor torque

ω₁ = 2π·1450/60 = 151.8 rad/s
T1 = P/ω₁ = 5500/151.8 = 36.22 N·m

Output torque

T2 = 36.22·48/24·0.96 = 69.55 N·m

Answer

T2 = 69.55 N·m
2.Gears & gear trains

Answer: P = 19 kW

Belt drives: without slip, both pulleys have the same rim speed v = π·d·n/60, so n₁·d₁ = n₂·d₂ and the speed ratio is d₂/d₁. Slip s makes the driven pulley a little slower: n₂ = n₁·(d₁/d₂)·(1 − s). The power transmitted is P = (T₁ − T₂)·v, with T₁ the tension on the tight side and T₂ on the slack side. Friction limits the ratio of the tensions: T₁/T₂ = eμθ, where θ is the angle of wrap in radians on the smaller pulley; for an open belt θ = π − 2·asin((d₂ − d₁)/(2C)) with centre distance C.

Angle of wrap

θ = 3.052 rad

Slack-side tension

eμθ = e1.068 = 2.91, T₂ = 1200/2.91 = 412.4 N

Power

P = (1200 − 412.4)·24.13 = 19 kW

Answer

P = 19 kW
3.Torsion of shafts

Answer: G = 79.96 GPa

Torsion of circular shafts: shear stress grows linearly from zero at the centre to τmax = T·r/J at the surface, with J = πd⁴/32 for a solid shaft and J = π(do⁴ − di⁴)/32 for a hollow one. The angle of twist is φ = TL/(GJ) in radians. Power and torque are linked by P = T·ω.

Polar moment and angle

J = π·12⁴/32 = 2036 mm⁴
φ = 3.52·π/180 = 0.06144 rad

Shear modulus

T = 40 N·m = 40000 N·mm
G = TL/(Jφ) = 40000·250/(2036·0.06144) = 79957 MPa
G = 79.96 GPa

Answer

G = 79.96 GPa

Compare: steel ≈ 80 GPa, brass ≈ 39 GPa, aluminium ≈ 26 GPa.

4.Torsion of shafts

Answer: φC = 2.772 °

Torsion of circular shafts: shear stress grows linearly from zero at the centre to τmax = T·r/J at the surface, with J = πd⁴/32 for a solid shaft and J = π(do⁴ − di⁴)/32 for a hollow one. The angle of twist is φ = TL/(GJ) in radians. Power and torque are linked by P = T·ω.

Internal torques

Sense of TC taken as positive.

TBC = TC = 250 N·m
TAB = TC − TB = 250 − 1500 = −1250 N·m

Twist of each segment

J = π·50⁴/32 = 613592 mm⁴
G = 80 GPa = 80000 MPa
φAB = −1.25 × 10⁶·2500/(80000·613592) = −0.06366 rad
φBC = 250000·3000/(80000·613592) = 0.01528 rad

Twist of end C

φC = −0.06366 + 0.01528 = −0.04838 rad → |φC| = 2.772°

Answer

φC = 2.772°
5.Mohr’s circle & stress transformation

Answer: τabs = 81.39 MPa

Plane stress transformation: on a plane rotated by θ, σ = (σₓ + σᵧ)/2 + (σₓ − σᵧ)/2·cos 2θ + τₓᵧ·sin 2θ. Mohr’s circle shows all planes at once: its centre is at C = (σₓ + σᵧ)/2 and its radius is R = √(((σₓ − σᵧ)/2)² + τₓᵧ²). The principal stresses are C ± R, and the largest in-plane shear stress is R. In three dimensions the absolute maximum shear stress is (σmax − σmin)/2 over all three principal stresses; in plane stress the third one is zero.

στxyCσ1​σ2​

In-plane principal stresses

C = 65 MPa, R = √((−55)² + (−60)²) = 81.39 MPa
σ1 = 146.4 MPa, σ2 = −16.39 MPa, σz = 0

Largest of the three circles

τ = max(|σ1 − σ2|, |σ1|, |σ2|)/2 = max(162.8, 146.4, 16.39)/2 = 81.39 MPa

Answer

τabs = 81.39 MPa

Here σ₁ and σ₂ have opposite signs, so the in-plane maximum R is also the absolute maximum.

6.Mohr’s circle & stress transformation

Answer: n = 3.313

Plane stress transformation: on a plane rotated by θ, σ = (σₓ + σᵧ)/2 + (σₓ − σᵧ)/2·cos 2θ + τₓᵧ·sin 2θ. Mohr’s circle shows all planes at once: its centre is at C = (σₓ + σᵧ)/2 and its radius is R = √(((σₓ − σᵧ)/2)² + τₓᵧ²). The principal stresses are C ± R, and the largest in-plane shear stress is R. Yield criteria: von Mises predicts yield when σvM = √(σ₁² − σ₁σ₂ + σ₂²) reaches σY; Tresca when the absolute maximum shear stress reaches σY/2.

στxyCσ1​σ2​

Principal stresses

C = 20 MPa, R = 50.99 MPa
σ1 = 70.99 MPa, σ2 = −30.99 MPa, σ3 = 0

Von Mises

σvM = √(70.99² − 70.99·(−30.99) + (−30.99)²) = 90.55 MPa
n = 300/90.55 = 3.313

Answer

n = 3.313

n > 1 means the point does not yield; Tresca is slightly more conservative than von Mises.

7.Axial stress & strain

Answer: ε = 423.2 µε

Hooke’s law: within the elastic range σ = E·ε. Combining with σ = P/A and ε = δ/L gives δ = PL/(AE).

Stress

A = π·30²/4 = 706.9 mm²
σ = P/A = 35·1000/706.9 = 49.51 MPa

Strain (Hooke’s law)

E for copper = 117 GPa = 117000 MPa.

ε = σ/E = 49.51/117000 = 0.0004232 = 423.2 µε

Answer

ε = 423.2 µε
8.Axial stress & strain

Answer: δ = 6.747 mm

Axially loaded members: each prismatic segment obeys δ = PL/(AE). For members in series the elongations add.

Same force in both segments

The free end carries P, so every section of the bar carries the same axial force P. Only the areas and materials change.

A1 = π·40²/4 = 1257 mm², A2 = π·16²/4 = 201.1 mm²
σ1 = 55.7 MPa
σ2 = 348.2 MPa

Add the segment elongations

δ1 = σ1L1/E1 = 55.7·1000/70000 = 0.7958 mm
δ2 = σ2L2/E2 = 348.2·2000/117000 = 5.951 mm
δ = δ1 + δ2 = 6.747 mm

Answer

δ = 6.747 mm
9.Column buckling

Answer: Pcr = 635 kN

Euler buckling: a slender column becomes unstable at Pcr = π²EI/(KL)², where KL is the effective length: K = 1 for pinned–pinned, 2 for fixed–free, 0.7 for fixed–pinned and 0.5 for fixed–fixed. It buckles about the axis with the smallest I. The formula holds for slender columns, whose critical stress stays below the yield stress.

Smallest second moment of area

A round section has the same I about every axis.

I = πd⁴/64 = π·80⁴/64 = 2.011 × 10⁶ mm⁴

Effective length

KL = 1·2500 = 2500 mm

Critical load

Pcr = π²EI/(KL)² = π²·200000·2.011 × 10⁶/2500² = 635009 N = 635 kN

Answer

Pcr = 635 kN
10.Column buckling

Answer: σcr = 12.34 MPa

Euler buckling: a slender column becomes unstable at Pcr = π²EI/(KL)², where KL is the effective length: K = 1 for pinned–pinned, 2 for fixed–free, 0.7 for fixed–pinned and 0.5 for fixed–fixed. It buckles about the axis with the smallest I. The formula holds for slender columns, whose critical stress stays below the yield stress.

Smallest second moment of area

A round section has the same I about every axis.

I = πd⁴/64 = π·50⁴/64 = 306796 mm⁴

Radius of gyration and slenderness

A = 1963 mm²
r = √(I/A) = √(306796/1963) = 12.5 mm
KL = 2·2500 = 5000 mm
KL/r = 5000/12.5 = 400

Critical stress

σcr = π²E/(KL/r)² = π²·200000/400² = 12.34 MPa

Answer

σcr = 12.34 MPa
11.Mechanical vibrations

Answer: ζ = 0.1501

Free vibration of a mass–spring system: the undamped natural frequency is ωn = √(k/m) in rad/s, and fn = ωn/(2π) in Hz. A viscous damper c gives the damping ratio ζ = c/cc, with critical damping cc = 2·√(k·m) = 2·m·ωn. An underdamped system (ζ < 1) oscillates at ωd = ωn·√(1 − ζ²). Springs in parallel add, k = k₁ + k₂; springs in series add as reciprocals, 1/k = 1/k₁ + 1/k₂.

Logarithmic decrement

δ = (1/4)·ln(50/1.1) = 0.9542

Damping ratio

ζ = δ/√(4π² + δ²) = 0.9542/√(39.48 + 0.9105) = 0.1501

Answer

ζ = 0.1501
12.Mechanical vibrations

Answer: fn = 4.262 Hz

Free vibration of a mass–spring system: the undamped natural frequency is ωn = √(k/m) in rad/s, and fn = ωn/(2π) in Hz. A viscous damper c gives the damping ratio ζ = c/cc, with critical damping cc = 2·√(k·m) = 2·m·ωn. An underdamped system (ζ < 1) oscillates at ωd = ωn·√(1 − ζ²). Springs in parallel add, k = k₁ + k₂; springs in series add as reciprocals, 1/k = 1/k₁ + 1/k₂.

Equivalent stiffness

Only k1 and k2 are in parallel. That pair is in series with k3, so combine them as reciprocals.

k12 = 60 + 5 = 65 kN/m
keq = 65·80/(65 + 80) = 35.86 kN/m

Natural frequency

ωn = √(35862/50) = 26.78 rad/s
fn = 26.78/(2π) = 4.262 Hz

Answer

fn = 4.262 Hz

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